External Resources

Here is a directory of notable organizations and industry associations that support systems science and its subdisciplines:


1. International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS)

  • Overview: Founded in 1954, ISSS is a global organization dedicated to promoting the development of systems sciences and their practical applications.
  • Activities: ISSS organizes annual conferences, publishes the General Systems Yearbook, and facilitates Special Integration Groups (SIGs) focusing on various themes within systems science.
  • Website: https://www.isss.org/

2. International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR)

  • Overview: Established in 1980, IFSR is a non-profit federation comprising over thirty member organizations worldwide, all engaged in systems research and cybernetics.
  • Mission: To advance systems research and applications, coordinate international programs, and promote the development of systems education and standards of competence.
  • Website: http://www.ifsr.org/

3. IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (IEEE SMCS)

  • Overview: A professional society within IEEE, focusing on the theory, practice, and interdisciplinary aspects of systems science and engineering, human-machine systems, and cybernetics.
  • Activities: Organizes conferences, publishes journals, and supports technical committees in areas like systems science, human-machine systems, and cybernetics.
  • Website: https://www.ieeesmc.org/

4. International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)

  • Overview: Founded in 1990, INCOSE is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of systems engineering.
  • Activities: Hosts conferences, publishes the Systems Engineering journal, and offers certification programs for systems engineering professionals.
  • Website: https://www.incose.org/

5. System Dynamics Society

  • Overview: An international, nonprofit organization devoted to encouraging the development and use of system dynamics and systems thinking.
  • Activities: Hosts conferences, publishes the System Dynamics Review journal, and supports special interest groups and chapters worldwide.
  • Website: https://systemdynamics.org/

6. American Society for Cybernetics (ASC)

  • Overview: A scholarly organization that promotes the understanding of cybernetics and its applications in various domains.
  • Activities: Organizes conferences, workshops, and publishes works related to the field of cybernetics.
  • Website: http://www.asc-cybernetics.org/

7. International Society for Knowledge and Systems Sciences (ISKSS)

  • Overview: Focuses on the integration of knowledge management and systems sciences to address complex societal challenges.
  • Activities: Hosts international conferences and publishes research findings in related fields.
  • Website: http://www.iskss.org/

8. UK Systems Society (UKSS)

  • Overview: Aims to promote systems thinking and systemic practice in the UK.
  • Activities: Organizes conferences, workshops, and provides a platform for professionals interested in systems approaches.
  • Website: https://www.ukss.org.uk/

9. Australian and New Zealand Systems (ANZSYS)

  • Overview: A regional group that fosters systems thinking and practice in Australia and New Zealand.
  • Activities: Conducts conferences, seminars, and collaborative research projects.
  • Website: https://anzsys.org/

10. Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (BCSSS)

  • Overview: Based in Austria, the BCSSS is dedicated to advancing the study and application of systems science, honoring the legacy of Ludwig von Bertalanffy.
  • Activities: Engages in research projects, publications, and educational programs related to systems science.
  • Website: https://www.bcsss.org/

11. New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI)

  • Overview: Established in 1996, NECSI is an independent research institution dedicated to advancing the study of complex systems and their applications to societal challenges.
  • Activities: NECSI offers educational programs, conducts interdisciplinary research, and hosts the International Conference on Complex Systems.
  • Website: https://necsi.edu/

12. Complexity Science Hub Vienna (CSH Vienna)

  • Overview: Founded in 2015, CSH Vienna focuses on the study of complex systems to address global challenges such as economic shifts, climate crises, and pandemics.
  • Activities: The hub conducts interdisciplinary research, develops new methodologies for understanding complex systems, and collaborates with international research centers.
  • Website: https://www.csh.ac.at/

13. World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS)

  • Overview: Established in 1960, WAAS is an international network of over 800 scientists, artists, and scholars dedicated to addressing global challenges through a transdisciplinary approach.
  • Activities: WAAS serves as a forum for addressing global issues, holds conferences, and publishes journals such as Cadmus and Eruditio.
  • Website: http://worldacademy.org/

14. Swarm Development Group (SDG)

  • Overview: Formed in 1999, SDG is a non-profit organization focused on advancing the development of complex adaptive system-oriented agent-based modeling tools.
  • Activities: SDG coordinates the annual SwarmFest conference, bringing together developers, users, and researchers in the field of agent-based modeling.
  • Website: http://www.swarm.org/

15. Tellus Institute

  • Overview: Founded in 1976, the Tellus Institute is a non-profit research organization aiming to bring scientific rigor and systemic vision to critical environmental and social issues.
  • Activities: The institute conducts research on sustainable development, scenario planning, and global futures, and leads the Great Transition Initiative.
  • Website: https://www.tellus.org/

16. Institute for the Future (IFTF)

  • Overview: Established in 1968, IFTF is a Palo Alto-based non-profit think tank specializing in long-term forecasting and planning, emerging trends, and future scenarios.
  • Activities: IFTF conducts research, develops foresight tools, and offers programs to help organizations anticipate and prepare for future challenges.
  • Website: https://www.iftf.org/

17. Santa Fe Institute (SFI)

  • Overview: Founded in 1984, the Santa Fe Institute is an independent, nonprofit research institute located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. It is dedicated to the multidisciplinary study of complex adaptive systems, encompassing physical, computational, biological, and social systems.
  • Mission: To foster a scientific research community that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries, aiming to uncover the fundamental principles underlying complex systems.
  • Activities: SFI conducts theoretical research, organizes educational programs such as summer schools on complex systems, and engages in outreach initiatives to disseminate knowledge on complexity science.
  • Notable Achievements: The institute has contributed foundational research in fields like chaos theory, genetic algorithms, complexity economics, and network theory.
  • Website: https://santafe.edu/

18. The Club of Budapest

  • Overview: Established in 1993 by Ervin Laszlo, the Club of Budapest is an international think tank based in Hungary. It focuses on the evolution of global consciousness and the promotion of a sustainable and peaceful world.
  • Mission: To provide insights and support for the development of new ethics and a new way of thinking that can help address the challenges facing humanity and the planet.
  • Activities: The Club of Budapest organizes conferences, publishes works on global issues, and collaborates with various organizations to promote holistic and systemic approaches to problem-solving.
  • Notable Achievements: The organization has been influential in promoting systems thinking and holistic approaches to global challenges, aligning with Ervin Laszlo’s work in systems philosophy and integral theory.
  • Website: https://www.clubofbudapest.com/

19. Research Committee 51 on Sociocybernetics (RC51) of the International Sociological Association (ISA)

  • Overview: RC51 is a research committee within the International Sociological Association (ISA) that focuses on the interdisciplinary field of sociocybernetics, which integrates sociology with systems theory and cybernetics.
  • Activities:
    • Conferences and Meetings: RC51 organizes sessions at ISA World Congresses and interim conferences to facilitate discussions and advancements in sociocybernetics.
    • Publications: The committee publishes the Journal of Sociocybernetics, an electronic journal that disseminates research findings and theoretical developments in the field.
  • Website: https://sociocybernetics.org/

RC51 serves as a platform for scholars and practitioners interested in exploring the applications of cybernetic principles to social systems, promoting a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in societal interactions.


20. Systems Thinking Network on LinkedIn

  • Description: A self-organising network of, for, and by systems thinkers. The group is a work in progress and will be owned and managed in a distributed way. This group is part of a loose network which extends across:
    • * The Ecology of System Thinking group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/774241602654986/
    • * The Systems Sciences group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2391509563
    • * Systems Thinking Daily: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stdaily/
    • * Systems Community of Inquiry https://stream.syscoi.com/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2639211/

​21. There are online resources and platforms dedicated to systems science and systems thinking. One prominent example is the Principia Cybernetica Web, a comprehensive online repository focused on cybernetics and systems science. This platform offers a wealth of information, including articles, definitions, and theoretical frameworks related to systems theory and its applications.

Principia Cybernetica Web

  • Overview: An online platform dedicated to the collaborative development of cybernetics and systems science.
  • Features:
    • Extensive articles and resources on systems theory, cybernetics, and related disciplines.
    • Concept maps and interconnected topics to facilitate understanding of complex systems.
    • Collaborative contributions from experts in the field.
  • Website: Principia Cybernetica Web

While the Principia Cybernetica Web serves as a specialized knowledge base, other platforms like Wikipedia also provide extensive information on systems science and related topics. Additionally, various professional organizations maintain online resources and publications that contribute to the body of knowledge in systems science.


These organizations contribute significantly to the advancement of systems science and its related fields, offering research, educational programs, and collaborative opportunities to address complex global challenges.